Durango Dog Training – Group Classes

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Class

Gentle Canine dog training is now offering a six week AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certificate is a great way to start your puppy off right with manners and social skills.

Our approach to puppy training helps you not only build your foundation skill set, we also focus on novel stimuli, as recommended by veterinary behaviorists. We will be covering puppy basics such as sits, downs, and walking on leash, as well as social manners including being approached by a stranger, meeting other dogs on leash, sitting to be pet and more. You and your puppy will have the opportunity to test for your AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certificate on the last class of the six week course.

Classes are an hour long and are held at our training center located in the up stairs of Bakers Bridge Veterinary Clinic, To register for the class please call or text us. (970) 903-5794.

AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC)

Preparation Class

and CGC 1 & 2 Class

We are now offering a six week AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Preparation class for dogs of all ages! This class will help you and your pup build up and fine tune appropriate manners at home and in public while working toward a CGC certificate. If your looking for the next step after puppy basics, this is the class for you. This class is a great way to learn new and fun training activities to keep training with your dog fun and dynamic. This class will help you brush up on your puppy basics while moving forward into a stronger and more reliable skill set. We will focus on skills that your dog will need to use in the real world such as meeting dogs and people on leash, sit stays and down stays, and working through noises and distractions.

If you’ve got your puppy basics down and are looking to expand and improve on your and your dogs training skill set beyond the classroom, our CGC 1 & 2 class is for you! This six week class will take place in the real world, and challenge your pups with class in downtown Durango, at different parks, on the river trail, and more! This class will focus on building on existing skills and learning new techniques to keep training fun and engaging for your growing dog.

Trek & Train

Our Trek & Train program is designed to help you and your dog learn how to navigate the back country safely. In a group setting we work on proper socialization, recall off of all distractions, staying close when off leash and how to safely navigate potential obstacles (bridges, creeks, boulder fields, etc.)

We will share our extensive knowledge of exploring the back country. With years of experience on our local search and rescue team, tons of personal experience hiking, climbing and long distance running around all the beautiful mountains our area has to offer. Theres nothing better than having your dog as your outdoor companion, we will help get you there. This class is $50 per team, we keep these groups small, we recommend reserving your spot soon!

SUP with your Pup

SUP with your pup is a great program if you want to learn the basics of stand up paddle boarding and how to teach to your dog to join you. We not only help you get more comfortable on a SUP we help you start your dog off on the right paw, to become your SUPing buddy.

SUPing is great for dogs of all ages, puppies learn a lot of impulse control while working for and focusing on you in a really fun and stimulating environment. Adult dogs will enjoy learning a new skill, its a physical and mental challenge. SUPing is great way for older dogs to get low impact activity, the balancing is a great way to strengthen all those muscle groups, especially the antagonist muscles that don’t get activated often. These classes are offered once its warm enough outside. We offer private lessons and group classes, all lessons and class prices include the paddle board gear.

Tricks Class

Our tricks class is a great way to expand your training skill set. We teach you the learning theory behind teaching your dog complex tricks. Tricks training is a great way to mentally challenge your dog, and give them more tools in their training tool box. You would be surprised with how handy tricks training can be, you teach your dog to offer non-typical behaviors when presented with different challenges. This class is great for dogs off all ages, general manners are preferred for all dogs attending class.

Leash Skills Class

Our new Leash Skills program is a great way to work on leash skills, recall and training your dog to be your adventure partner. This course helps with pulling, and lunging dogs. The purpose of this course is to teach you the training skill set to teach your dog how to walk with you, and work for you through all distractions. Now, we understand that not everyone is going to need the same skill set, so we teach you to do everything and more, so you can tweak your training protocol to fit your needs and your lifestyle. This is a 3 week course meeting once a week for an hour, the cost is $120 for the course.